The Swiss city of Basel has joined the growing list of cities to express an interest in applying for its city name as a Top Level Domain when ICANN asks for applications, possibly in 2011.The city government for Basel is currently looking at the economics of such an application, whether .BASEL would benefit the city and whether there is community support.The canton government has called a meeting in early May with groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, trade associations, tourism groups, the city’s university and other groups who could possibly interested in such a proposal. Parties interested in the .BASEL proposal can contact the canton’s chancellery to express their interest.The government estimates it will cost CHF500,000 to set up a .BASEL gTLD and around two million francs to operate annually. There is also no operator singled out to run a registry for .BASEL.The above information was sourced from, in German, the following stories:
bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/Heisst-es-bald-wwwbazbasel-Regierung-prueft-InternetRegistrierung/story/28032591
www.badische-zeitung.de/basel/basel-reserviert-die-internetadresse-basel
.BASEL Joins The List of Potential gTLD Applicants
The Swiss city of Basel has joined the growing list of cities to express an interest in applying for its city name as a Top Level Domain when ICANN asks for applications, possibly in 2011.